Submersible pump-motor



P 21, 1954 L. w. WIGHTMAN SUBMERSIBLE PUMP-MOTOR Filed April 30, 1952Inventor-z Lawrence W. Wightman, 1 fimw His Attornqy.

Patented Sept. 21, 1954 4 SUBMERSIBLE PUlVIP-MOTOR Lawrance W. Wightman,Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application April 3 0, 1952, Serial No. 285,204

9 Claims.

This invention relates to motor driven pumps, and more specifically tosubmersible pump-motor units.

It is frequently desirable to position a pump at some level below theground, as for example, in a well or a tank such as a gasoline storagetank. In such installations, to obviate the necessity for a long shaftextending from the pump to a motor at or near the ground level, it isdesirable that the driving motor be closely associated with the pump ina compact unit, so that only the motor energizing line needbe carried tothe ground level. such arrangements are commonly referred to aspump-motors. In this type of unit, where the motor is located with thepump below the level of the fluid, it is obvious that the pumped fluidmust either pass through or around the motor in order to reach thecasing which carries it to the ground level. When a device of this typeis utilized to pump gasoline, for example, to supply a number ofgasoline dispensers on the ground level from a common storage tank, itis obviously not desirable that the gasoline be pumped through the motorand. it is therefore necessary to seal the motor from the pump and toprovide means for passing the gasoline over and around the motor. In.connection with the design of the pump itself, it is well known thatthe multistage radial or centrifugal flow pump is highly efficient, andit is therefore desirable to adapt such a pump for use in connectionwith a submersible pump-motor. It is additionally desirable to providean arrangement wherein the pump unit may be disassembled from the motorwithout disassembling the motor itself.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a submersiblepump-motor unit incorporating the desirable features enumerated above.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparentand the invention will be better understood by reference to thefollowing description and the accompanying drawing, and the features ofnovelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a shaft having oneor more impellers mounted thereon and a casing surrounding the impelleror impellers, openings being provided at each end for respectivelyadmitting fluid to the pump and discharging the same therefrom. Thiscasing may be longitudinally divided into a plurality of identicalsegments, thus requiring only one die for manufacturing and permittingassembly and checking of the impellers on the shaft prior to assembly ofthe casing. A motor is provided having its rotor mounted on the sameshaft with the impeller or impellers, and having a frame assemblyincluding a stator member mounted within an inner shell. The pumpcasingis attached to the frame assembly, and an outer shell surrounds theinner shell, being spaced therefrom defining a passage over the motor.The outer shell is joined to the pump casing and the discharge openingof the casing communicates with the passage over the motor so that thefluid discharged by the pump is pumped through the pasage over themotor. More specifically, motor endshields are provided joined to theinner shell and having bearings for rotatably supporting the shaft.Clamping means are provided engaging the endshields to hold the motor inassembled relation, and other clamping means attach the casing to theendshields so that the casing may be disassembled without disassemblingthe motor.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section,illustrating the improved pumpmotor of this invention; Fig. 2 is an endView of the construction of Fig. 1 as viewed from the left thereof; andFig. 3 is an end view of the motor portion'of the unit with the pumpportion disassembled as viewed along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the submersible pump-motor unit has a pumpportion generally identified as i, and a motor portion generallyidentified as 2. Considering first the pump portion, a shaft 3 isprovided having a plurality of impellers 4 mounted thereon. Theimpellers 4 include web sections 5 to which blades 6 are attached, andshrouds 62 join the blades on their sides remote from the web sections5. A casing 1 is provided surrounding the impellers 5 and having fluidstraightening vanes 8 mounted therein. Vanes 8 are attached to annulardividers 9 and are also provided With shrouds Ill. The impellers 4 andthe casing blades 8 cooperate to draw fluid into the entrance opening Hformed at one end of the casing l, and to discharge this fluid throughthe end opening [2 formed at the other end of the casing l. Theimpellers 4 are held in assembled relation on the shaft 3 by means'of asuitable nut [3. In order to permit assembly of the impellers 4 on theshaft 3, the casing I is preferably longitudinally divided into twoidentical sections [4 and I5, held in assembled relation in any suitablemanner, as by screws 16. With the pump casing formed in two identicalhalves as shown, only one die is required for manufacturing and it ispossible to assemble the impellers 4 and disc-shaped dividers 9 Withstraightener 8 on the shaft 3 and check them for proper spacing andalignment prior to assembling the two casing halves I4 thereon.

The motor unit 2 includes a rotor ll shown as being of the squirrel cagetype and having end rings 18. The rotor I! is mounted on an extension I9of the shaft 3 on which the impellers 4 are mounted. A stator core 29 inwhich suitable windings 20 are arranged surrounds the rotor l1 and ismounted within an inner annular supporting the extension |:9 of theshaft 3.

shell member 2|. The inner shell member 2| extends beyond the axial endsof the stator core 20 and the rotor I1 defining end cavities 22 and 23.An endshield 24 is provided closing the end cavity 22 at one end of thestator 28 and rotor I1, and rotatably supporting the extension |9 of theshaft 3 by means of a suitable bearing 25, for example, a carbonbearing. The inner shell 2| engages an annular flange 26 formed on theendshield 24 and a suitable seal 21 prevents entry of fluid into theinterior of the machine. The endshield 24 is provided with fourprojections 28 extending from the peripheral edge thereof as will behereinafter more fully described. Endshield 24 also is provided with aplurality of radially spaced-apart projecting fins 29 having grooves 30formed therein. An annular flange 3| formed at the discharge end |2 ofthe pump casing 1 mates with the groove 30 in the ends 29 as shown in.Fig. 1.

Another endshield member 32 is provided at the other end of the motorand has a similar graphite bearing 33 formed therein for rotatablyEndshield 32 closes the end cavity 23 and the inner shell 2| is joinedthereto by means of annular flange 34 with seal 35 preventing entranceof fluid into the interior of the motor. Line 36 for energizing themotor extends through a suitable opening 31 in the endshield 32. Theendshield 32: is also provided with a plurality of projections 38extending therefrom.

An outer endshield 39 is provided joined toendshield 32 by means ofannular flange 48 formed thereon, with seal 4| being provided. The outerendshield 39 also has a plurality of projections 42 extending therefrom,and arranged in axial alignment with the projections 38 on the endshield32. The outer endshield 39 has a plurality of radially spaced ribs 43formed thereon, as will be hereinafter described, and an extensionportion 44 having an internally threaded opening 45 formed. therein. Theline 36 extends into the opening 45 with a suitable seal 46 sealing thecavity 41 formed by the endshield 39. It will be readily apparent that asuitable conduit may be threaded into the opening 45 to carry theline 38to the surface.

In order to hold the motor in assembled relation, clamping bolts 41engage alternate ones of the projections 28 on the end flanges 24 andthe projections 38 and 42 on the endshields 32 and 39. It will be seenthat the slotted heads 48 of the clamp bolts 41 are arranged facing thepump unit I, while the threaded ends 63 are threaded into suitabletapped openings in the projections 38 and 42. An outer end flange 49 isprovided having an annular portion 59 abutting .the vanes 43 of theouter endshield 39. The outer end flange 49 is provided with a threadedopening into which a casing 52 may be threaded to discharge fluid fromthe unit. The pump casing 1 and the outer end flange 49 are held inassembled relation by the clamp bolts 53 extending through alternateones of the projections .28 on the endshield 24 and the projections 38and 42 on the endshields 32 and 39. These clamp bolts 53 pass throughsuitable openings in annular portion 58 of outer end flange 49, andthreadingly engage annular flange 3| of casing I. It will be seen thatthe threaded heads 54 are arranged on the exterior of the machine.

It will now be readily seen that the clamp. bolts 41 hold the motorincluding endshields 24, 32, 39 and the inner shell 2| in assembledrelation,

4 while the clamp bolts 53 connect the pump casing and the outer endflange 49 to the motor holding the pump casing T in abuttingrelationship with the fins 29 of the endshield 24 and the outer endflange 49 in abutting relationship with the fins 43 of the outerendshield 39.

To complete the assembly, an outer shell 55 is mounted on the endshieldprojections 28, 36, and 42 surrounding the inner shell 2| and defining apassage 56 over the motor. It will be seen that the annular portion ofthe endshield 24 is spaced from the opening |2 of the casing 1 so thatthe opening |2 communicates with the passage 56 over the motor betweenthe vanes 29. It will also be seen that the endshields 32 and 39 arespaced from the outer end flange 49 so that the opening 5| in the outerend flange 49 and therefore the interior 51 of the casing 52 communicatewith the passage 56 between vanes 43. It will thus be seen that fluiddischarged by the pump through casing discharge opening I2 enters theannular passage 56 surrounding the motor and passes thereover and isdischarged into the easing '52. Outer shell 55 joins the casingv 1 andouter end flange 49 by means of rabbet connections 58 and 59, and seals69 prevent loss of fluid through the joints between the outer shell 55and the pump casing 1 and outer end flange 49. A suitable sealingarrangement 6| is arranged between the impellers 4 and the end flange 24to prevent entry of fluid into the motor.

It will now be readily seen that this invention provides a constructionwherein the pump portion is readily disassembled from the motor withoutrequiring disassembly of the motor and is further characterized by theease of manufacture and assembly and disassembly of the pump casing. Itwill also be readily seen that the pump unit is attached to. thestationary structure of the motor with the outer floating shell sealingthe unit, to complete the assembly.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of thisinvention, further modification and improvements will occur to thoseskilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the form shown, and I intend in the appendedclaims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spiritand scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

.1. A submersible pump-motor unit comprising a shaft, an impellermounted on said shaft, a casing surrounding said impeller and havingopenings formed therein for respectively admitting fluid to said pumpand discharging the same therefrom, said casing being longitudinallydivided into a plurality of identical sections, clamp ing means engagingsaid sections for remov ably holding said sections in assembled relationwhereby said casing is assembled around said impeller, a motor having arotor member mounted on said shaft and having a frame assembly, andmeans for attaching said casing to said frame assembly comprising an endshield rigidly attached to said frame assembly and having a plurality ofprojections each having an aperture formed therein, a flange formed onsaid casing and having a plurality of apertures formed therein, and aplurality of clamping members respectively extending between each ofsaid end shield apertures and said casing flange apertures and into thesame thereby to rigidly interconnect said end shield and said casing.

2. A submersible pump-motor unit compris- '5 ing ashaft, an impellermounted on said shaft, a casingsurrounding said impeller and havingopenings formed therein for respectively admitting fluid to said pumpand discharging the same therefrom, said casing being longitudinallydivided into a plurality of identical sections, clamping means engagingsaid sections for removably holding said sections in assembled relationwhereby said casing is assembled around said impeller, a motor having arotor member mounted on said shaft, a frame assembly for said motorincluding a stator member surrounding said rotor member'and mounted inan inner shell, means for attaching said casing to said frame assemblycomprising an end shield rigidly attached to said frame assembly andhaving a plurality of projections each having an aperture formedtherein, a flange formed on said casing and having a plurality ofapertures formed therein, and a plurality of clamping membersrespectively extending between said end shield apertures and said casingflange apertures and into the same thereby rigidly to interconnect saidend shield and said casing, and an outer shell surrounding said innershell and spaced therefrom defining a passage over said motor, saidcasing communicating with said passage whereby said fluid is pumpedtherethrough over said motor.

3. A submersible pump-motor unit comprising a shaft, an impeller mounted,on said shaft, a casing surrounding said impeller and being open atboth ends for respectively admitting fluid to said pump and dischargingthe same therefrom, said casing being longitudinally divided into aplurality of identical sections, clamping means engaging said sectionfor removably holding said sections in'assembled relation whereby saidcas- Iing a plurality of radially spaced apertures formed therein, and aplurality of clamping members parallel to said shaft and respectivelyextending between said end shield apertures and said casing flangeapertures and into the same thereby rigidly to interconnect said endshield and said casing, and an outer shell surrounding said inner shelland spaced therefrom defining a passage over said motor, said outershell being joined to said casing, said discharge opening of said casingcommunicating with said passage whereby said fluid is pumpedtherethrough over said motor.

4. A submersible pump-motor unit comprising a shaft, an impeller mountedon said shaft, a casing surrounding said impeller and being open at bothends for respectively admitting fluid to said pump and discharging thesame therefrom, said casing being longitudinally divided into a plurality of identical sections, clamping means engaging said sections forremovably holding said sections .in assembled relation whereby saidcasing is assembled around said impeller, a motor having a rotor membermounted on said shaft, a frame assemblyfor said motor including a statormember surrounding said rotor member and mounted in an inner shelldefining cavities at the ends of said stator member, a pair of endshield members respectively joined to said inner shell and closing saidcavities, said end shield members respectively having bearings forrotatably supporting said shaft, means for attaching said casing to atleast one of said end shield members and comprising a plurality ofradially spaced projections formed onsaid end shield member each havingan aperture formed therein, a flange formed on said casing and having aplurality of radially spaced apertures formed therein, and a pluralityof clamping members parallel to said shaft and respectively extendingbetween said end shield apertures and said casing apertures and into thesame thereby rigidly to interconnect said end shield and said casing,and an outer shell surrounding said inner shell and spaced therefromdefining a passage over said motor, said outer shell being joined tosaid casing, said discharge opening of said casig communicating withsaid passage whereby said fluid is pumped therethrough over said motor.

5. A submersiblepump-motor unit comprising a shaft, an impeller mountedon said shaft, a casing surrounding said impeller and being open at bothends for respectively admitting fluid to said pump and discharging thesame therefrom, said casing being longitudinally divided into aplurality of identical sections, clamping means engaging said sectionsfor removably holding said sections in assembled relation whereby saidcasing is assembled around said impeller, a motor having a rotor membermounted on said shaft, a frame assembly for said motor including astator member surrounding said rotor member and mounted in an innershell defining cavities at the ends of said stator member, a pair of endshield members respectively joined to said inner shell and closing saidcavities, said end shield members respectively having bearings forrotatably supporting said shaft, clamping means engaging said endshieldmember for holding said motor in assembled relation, means for attachingsaid casing to the end shield member adjacent thereto comprising aplurality of radially spaced peripheral projections on said end shieldmember each having an aperture formed therein, a flange formed on saidcasing and having a plurality of radially spaced apertures formedtherein, and a plurality of clamping members parallel to said shaft andrespectively extending between said end shield apertures and said casingapertures and into the same thereby rigidly to interconnect said endshield and said casing, and an outer shell surrounding said inner shelland spaced therefrom defining a passage over said motor, said outershell being joined to said casing, said lastna-Ined end shield beingspaced from said casing defining a cavity communicating with said casingdischarge opening and said passage whereby said fluid is pumpedtherethrough over said motor.

6. A submersible pump-motor unit comprising a shaft, an impeller mountedon said shaft, a casing surrounding said impeller and being open at bothends for respectively admitting fluid to said pump and discharging thesame therefrom, said casing being longitudinally divided into aplurality of identical sections, clamping means engaging said sectionsfor removably holding said sections in assembled relation whereby saidcasing is assembled around said impeller, a motor having a rotor membermounted on said shaft. a frame assembly for said motor including astator member surrounding said rotor member and mounted in an innershell defining cavities at the ends of said stator member, a pair ofaeeasae shield members respectively having bearings for rotatablysupporting. said shaft, clamping means engaging said end shieldmembersfor holding. said motor in assembled relation, a third and outerend shield member abutting in part that one of said pair of end shieldmembers which is remote from said impellers, an outer end flange memberabutting said outer end shield member and having. an openingtherethrough for discharging fluid from said unit, said casing abuttingthe end shield member adjacent thereto, clamping means engaging saidcasing and said outer end flange for holding said unit in assembledrelation whereby said casing and end flange member may be disassembledwithout disassembling said motor, and an outer shell surrounding saidinner shell and spaced. therefrom defining a passage over said motor,said outer shell being joined to said casing and said outer end flange,said casing discharge opening and said outer end flange openingrespectively communicating with said passage whereby fluid is pumpedtherethrough over said motor and outof said outer end flange opening.

7. A submersible pump-motor unit comprising a shaft, an impeller mountedon said shaft, a casing surrounding said impeller and being open at bothends for respectively admitting fluid to said pump and discharging thesame therefrom, said casing being longitudinally divided into aplurality of identical sections, clamping means engaging saidseotionsfor removably holding said sections in assembled relation whereby saidcasing is assembled around said impeller, a motor having a rotor membermounted on said shaft, a frame assembly for said motor including astator member surrounding said rotor member and mounted in an. innershell defining cavities at the ends of said stator member, a pair of endshield members respectively joined to said inner shell and closing saidcavities, said end shield members respectively having bearings forrotatably supporting said shaft, each of said end shield members havinga plurality of projections formed on the peripheral edge thereof,longitudinally disposed clamping means arranged over said inner shelland respectively engaging said projections on said end shield membersfor holding said motor in assembled relation, a third and outer endshield member abutting in part that one of said pair of end shieldmembers which is remote fromsaid impellers, an outer end flange memberabutting said outer end shield member and having a longitudinal openingtherethrough for discharging fluid from said unit, said casing abuttingthe end shield member adjacent thereto, longitudinally disposed clampingmeans arranged over said inner shell and respectively engaging saidcasing and said outer end flange for holding said unit in assembledrelation whereby said casing and. end flange member may be disassembledwithout disassembling said motor, and an outer shell surrounding saidinner shell and mounted on said end shield member projections definingwith said inner shell a passage over said motor, said outer shell beingjoined to said casing and said outer end flange, said casing dischargeopening and said outer end flange opening respectively communicatingwith said passage whereby fluid is pumped therethrough over said motorand out of said outer end flange opening.

8. A submersible pump-motor unit comprising a shaft, an impeller mountedon said shaft, a casing surrounding said impeller and having openlngsformed therein for respectively admitting fluid to said pump anddischarging the same therefrom, a, motor having a rotor member mountedon said shaft, a frame assembly for said motor including a stator membersurro said rotor member and mounted in an inner shdl, means forattaching said casing to said frame assembly comprising an end shieldrigidly attached to said frame assembly and having a plurality ofprojections each having an aperture formed therein, a flange formed onsaid casing and having a plurality of apertures. formed; therein, and aplurality of members: respectively er tending between end shieldapertures and said casing flange apertures and into: the same therebyrigidly to interconnect said end shield and said casing, and an outershell surrounding said inner shell and spaced therefrom defining apassage over said motor, said casing communicating with said passagewhereby said fluid is pumped therethrough over said motor.

9. A submersible pump-motor imit comprbing a shaft, an impeller mountedon said shaft, a casing surrounding said impeller and being open at bothends for respectively admitting fluid to said pump and discharging thesame therefrom, a motor having a rotor member mounted on said shaft, aframe assembly for said motor including a stator member surrounding,saidrotor. member and mounted in an inner shell defining cavities at theends of said stator member, a pair of end shield members respectivelyjoined to said inner shell and closing said cavities, said end shieldmembers respectively having bearings for rotatably supporting saidshaft, clamping means emgaging said end shield members for holding saidmotor in assembled relation, a third and outer end shield memberabutting in part that one of said pair of end shield members which isremote from said impellers, an outer end flange. member abutting saidouter end shield member and having an opening therethrough fordischarging fluid from said unit, said casing abutting the end shieldmember adjacent thereto, clamping means engaging said casing and saidouter end flange for holding said unit in assembled relation wherebysaid casing and end flange member a may be disassembled withoutdisassembling said motor, and an outer shell surrounding said innershell and spaced therefrom defining a passage over said motor, saidouter shell being joined to said casing and said outer end flange, saidcesing discharge opening and said outer end flange opening respectivelycommunicating with said passage whereby fluid is pumped therethmugh oversaid motor and out of, said outer end flame opening.

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